Racquet lag and supination(?) on forehand

A little confused about the movement (as L&R tennis calls it) just before the forward swing of the forehand begins, which causes the racquet to go back as the body rotates forward. Should you supinate and "pause" the racquet as you begin to uncoil to hit the forehand?

I think I have a bit of a lag with the straight arm forehand, but don't supinate. Tried supination but it just seems to mess up timing, so clarification and explanations as well as experiences with adding this to your forehand much appreciated. Thanks!

Lock and Roll tennis lag: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMNtq393tvo&t=1m30s

Federer lag(@13seconds): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ImeQaAyFPc&t=12s
 

WildVolley

Legend
The racket will naturally lag because you aren't strong enough to pull it forward without it lagging. You don't have to do anything conscious beyond try to relax your grip as you pull forward into the ball using the kinetic chain up from the ground in the ideal shot. The key to have this happen is to not have the racket completely perfectly lined up with the forward motion when you start swinging into the ball.

So the key is to relax and pull the racket into the ball. The tip of the head will inevitably lag and cause to some extent a stretch reflex. If you have a video camera capable of slow motion, you'll find that accelerating the racket toward the ball will cause this lag.

One of the key things Federer does is to "pat-the-dog" at the end of the backswing, so that the racket is fairly closed (the face pointing toward the ground). As his hand pulls the racket forward and slightly across the face will want to open up toward contact, and will brush up the ball.

My key takeaway is that you should not try to actively supinate. "Pat-the-dog" and use your body to pull forward into the shot, and the racket will lag. You don't have to think about it.
 

connico

Rookie
Its not supination.. please don't call it supination. Pull or throwing the racquet forward will cause this "moment" that your referring to". Its natural and you shouldnt think so much of it.

If your not doing it have to do it, practice throwing a ball or a swinging a baseball back to over emphasis this motion so you know what it feels like.
 
The racket will naturally lag because you aren't strong enough to pull it forward without it lagging. You don't have to do anything conscious beyond try to relax your grip as you pull forward into the ball using the kinetic chain up from the ground in the ideal shot. The key to have this happen is to not have the racket completely perfectly lined up with the forward motion when you start swinging into the ball.

So the key is to relax and pull the racket into the ball. The tip of the head will inevitably lag and cause to some extent a stretch reflex. If you have a video camera capable of slow motion, you'll find that accelerating the racket toward the ball will cause this lag.

One of the key things Federer does is to "pat-the-dog" at the end of the backswing, so that the racket is fairly closed (the face pointing toward the ground). As his hand pulls the racket forward and slightly across the face will want to open up toward contact, and will brush up the ball.

My key takeaway is that you should not try to actively supinate. "Pat-the-dog" and use your body to pull forward into the shot, and the racket will lag. You don't have to think about it.

Could you define "Pat the dog" racquet technique - I have searched through some threads and am confused on this. I just want the racquet to be pointing to the back fence before it starts forward.
 

Funbun

Professional
Could you define "Pat the dog" racquet technique - I have searched through some threads and am confused on this. I just want the racquet to be pointing to the back fence before it starts forward.

Your racquet face will be almost or exactly parallel to the ground on the backswing. Yes, your racquet will also be pointing to the back fence.

For an example, pause this video exactly at 0:05: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3Ce65Adz4k
^Note how Murray keeps the racquet face down, then subtly uses his core body to rotate and let his arm swing forward. Check the fast motion at the end of the video and you'll see that he does indeed quickly rotates his core and, keeping a loose arm, naturally have the racquet strike the ball dead on.

Yes, it's sort of a pause, depending on the ball. If it's slow, then you can afford to keep your racquet back longer. On the faster, heavier balls, you probably won't have time, and you'll have to do a more fluid, quicker setup and swing motion.

^^Agreed with WildVolley. You need to be relaxed on the forward swing. When we mean relaxed, we mean VERY relaxed. Don't ever force any motion on the wrist. Don't grip your racquet too hard. Don't try to voluntarily bring your elbow forward. Like the genius at lockandrolltennis.com says, it's like a monkey drum; your arm should be quite loose, like the strings on the drum, as you rotate.
 
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KayFactor

Rookie
Your racquet face will be almost or exactly parallel to the ground on the backswing. Yes, your racquet will also be pointing to the back fence.

For an example, pause this video exactly at 0:05: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3Ce65Adz4k
^Note how Murray keeps the racquet face down, then subtly uses his core body to rotate and let his arm swing forward. Check the fast motion at the end of the video and you'll see that he does indeed quickly rotates his core and, keeping a loose arm, naturally have the racquet strike the ball dead on.

Yes, it's sort of a pause, depending on the ball. If it's slow, then you can afford to keep your racquet back longer. On the faster, heavier balls, you probably won't have time, and you'll have to do a more fluid, quicker setup and swing motion.

^^Agreed with WildVolley. You need to be relaxed on the forward swing. When we mean relaxed, we mean VERY relaxed. Don't ever force any motion on the wrist. Don't grip your racquet too hard. Don't try to voluntarily bring your elbow forward. Like the genius at lockandrolltennis.com says, it's like a monkey drum; your arm should be quite loose, like the strings on the drum, as you rotate.

how would the swing and body rotation work if you attempt to hit with more topspin
 
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